Posted on: Saturday, December 17th, 2011
Well I had no idea this old hotel that was down from the Queen Mary had been taken over and rethemed/worked. So when I was booked by a couple from that area who had seen the hotel and liked the vibe but wanted to see what else was out there, off we went. From Temecula, South OC, back to Long Beach, and in the end Hotel Maya was the perfect fit for them and their celebration.
I loved the feel of the hotel, it has touches of old Mexico or South America all around and a bit funky too. The cere site has Long Beach over the channel as a background, and the banquet room we had was upstairs with glass doors that disappeared into the walls so you were open to an awesome balcony that gave you views that went from glistening glass from the buildings in Long Beach during the sunlight, to reflections during sunset, to a fairyland of lights in the darkness of night. It was really neat.
Now what made this wedding even more fun for me, the groom was from New Zealand and a lot of guests were coming from NZ (I am a NZer in case you don’t know), both the bride and groom were travellers as am I, and they both play rugby in Long Beach (as I sure don’t!!!! LOL). So there was really a cool connection to this whole celebration. The color scheme chosen I loved, lemon yellow and bright greens, and we made use of 1/2 cut lemons for placecard holders, table name stands etc, and the hotel has funky banquet chairs in colors that normally would not work, but totally worked for this wedding. Love it when it all comes together like that.
From the rehearsal where I started to hear the twangs of home through the rehearsal dinner, a lot of the guests staying at the hotel which puts them immediately in a more relaxed frame of mind (even local folks), and then the big day where the toast by the bestman who is totally a kiwi boy from Chch cracked me and everyone else there who could understand him and what he was saying up (as he said when he started, if you don’t understand what I am saying, watch a kiwi if they are laughing laugh, and he was soooo right, even my assistant and the dj both looked at me afterwards while I was wiping my eyes from crying with laughter, and they both said to me ‘we didn’t understand anything further than ‘hi”), to me getting the dj to play Land Downunder by Men at Work (which he disclaimed before playing because he did not believe me when I said the kiwis present would fill that dancefloor up and sing really really loud) and of course the kiwis filled the dancefloor and sang really really loud. It was a great celebration and the hotel with the firepits and view to Long Beach from all private and public areas and relaxed vibe was a perfect fit.
Enjoy these pics courtesy of Furious Photography:.
Until next time
Lisa
714 305 7112
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I just wanted to say thank you for everything. The wedding turned out soooo BEAUTIFUL. I don’t know what we would have done without you. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you
You are a great woman and a wedding co-ordinator ‘extraordinaire’. We are blessed and honored to have you as our co-ordinator.
We are so thankful and appreciative to have had you there on our special day. Words can not express our gratitude. From the very first moment we met you until the last moments of our wedding, you handled yourself with professionalism and respect. You made us feel comfortable and confident throughout the entire process.
Thank you for your great ability to oversee things and in such a fun and relaxing way. I know that the day went so smoothly because of all the time you spent on all the hidden details.
ou pulled together the most beautiful wedding in less than two weeks. People who attended our wedding still comment on it being the prettiest they’ve ever been to.